Flexible-sheet attachment



Filed Jan. 13, 1955 INVENTOR: SALVATORE A. LoVlCO W M AGENT FLEXIBLE-SHEET ATTACHMENT Salvatore A. Lo Vice, New-York, N. Y.

Application January 13, 1955, Serial No..481,6i0.3

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-187) My present invention relates to an arrangement wherein a flexible sheet, e. g. the supporting. canvas. of a beach chair, hammock. or the like, is to be removably attached to a frame.

The principal object ofthis invention is. to provide means for" removably and adjustably attaching av sheet to an at least roughly rectangular or U-shaped frame so as seen-rely to anchor the sheet to at leastthree sides of the frame.

A more particular object of this invention is; to; provide means for attaching asheet to a frame in the above.- described manner with the aid of lacing, thus by a method broadly similar to that disclosed in my U. S". Patent No. 2,665,745, issued January 12,, 1954.,

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved piece of furniture, such as a beach: chair, comprising a seating surface of. canvas. or the like equipped with special fastening; means for quickly and conveniently attaching same tQi a frame in such manner as to enable readjustment to the: most comfortable seating position when the position of the frame is altered (e. g. when the inclination. of the: beach .chairis varied).

A further object of 1 this invention is. to. provide a sheet of canvas or the like, for the purpose set forth, adapted to fit a variety of associated frames'of different sizes.

In accordance with my presenti-nvention I provide, in combination with a frame having at least three rods, bars or similarelongated elements joined togethersubstantially at right angles, a sheet having an extremity bent back upon itself around an intermediate one of these elements as well as a pair of side flaps folded around the adjacent elements respectively, together with adjustable fastening means (preferably in the form of lacing) for attaching the bent-over portion of said extremity and of each flap to the body of the sheet.

The above and other objects and features of my invention will become more fully apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a beach chair embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational rear view of the back portion of the beach chair of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the beach chair of Fig. 1, showing the seat thereof as well as parts of the frame;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of a canopy to be used with the beach chair of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the canopy of Fig. 4.

The beach chair 10, Fig. 1, comprises essentially a frame 20 and a canvas 30 forming the seating surface and the back. Frame 20 is composed of four U-shaped members 21, 22, 23 and 24. Member 21 represents the horizontal seat portion of the frame and is rigidly joined to member 22, representing the rear base portion, by means of couplings 11. Member 23 represents the back portion and is pivoted to members 21, 22 at couplings 11. Member 24 represents the front base portion and nited States Patent 0 ice is pivoted; to seat portion 21 at 12. The usual arm rests 12 are pivoted to the upper ends of the upstanding arms 24a, 24b of member 24 at 14 and to intermediate parts of. the arms 23a, 23b. of member 23- at 15. A pair: of slotted braces 16 extend from pivots 14 toward pivot. pins '17 at; couplings; 11. these pins being engageable by dilferentnotches in the slots of braces 16 to enable; adjustmentof the inclination. of back portion 23 (together with, front portion 24): in a'mannerwhich is wellknown .per se and does. not form part. of this invention.

The attachment, ofcanvas- 30v to. the back portion of frame 20- is illustrated: in. Fig. 2. A transverse strip 3L is. stitched or otherwise secured to the canvas 30 and forms a: pair of side: flaps; 31a", 31b which are bent around, the upright side arms, 230,- 2311 of the U-shaped frame portion 23 an extremity 32.v of canvas 30 is similarly bent around the horizontal intermediate element 230 of the frame portion. Strip- 31- carries three rows of grommets. 33- facing. similar rows of grommets 34 on flaps 31a, 31b and onv extremity 32' respectively. Each row of grommets 33is: joined-to its opposite row of grommets 34' by lacing 35.

The attachment. of canvas 30- to seat portion 21 is similar to that just described and has been illustrated in Fig. 3'. A transverse strip 36 is attached to the canvas 30 and forms a. pair of side flaps 36a, 36b engaging arms 21a, 21b of frame portion 23; extremity 32" ofcanvas 30*. is; bent. around the intermediate element 210 ofthis frame portion. Grommets 37 on strip 36 and grommets 38, on flaps: 36a, 36b and on extremity 32 face; one, another in. the same manner as the grommets 3,3, 34: of Fig.- 2 and. are similarly interconnected by lacing 39.

A detachable; frame. extension 25,. Figs. 4 and 5, is also. of generally U-shaped configuration and serves to support a, canopy. 40', as illustratedv in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Extension; 25'is provided with conventional. fastoning,- means- 118; for removably engaging the frame member 23.. Canopy 40-is,similar tothe back andseat sections. of canvas,.- 30 shown respectively in Figs. 2 and 3, excepttthat its three fiaps.-:40w',. 40b; 40c. are. all integral with the body of the sheet forming the canopy. Thus, flaps 40a and 40b are bent around the side arms 25a, 25b of frame extension 25 Whereas flap 40c is bent around the intermediate element 250 thereof; grommets 41 on the body of sheet 40 face similar grommets 42 on the edges of the flaps 40a, 40b, 40c and are joined thereto by lacing 43. Ornamental edge strips 43a, 43b, 430 of scalloped configuration are attached to the canopy 40 and overhang from extension 25 when the latter is secured to the frame 20 as shown in Fig. 1. Grommets 41 are mounted on a tape 44 stitched to body 40.

It will thus be seen that I have provided means for conveniently and adjustably fastening a sheet 30 or 40 to a frame portion 21, 23 or 25 by folding three flaps, extending substantially at right angles to one another, around three frame elements and then lacing these flaps to the sheet body. Since the laces 35, 39 or 43 afford a large amount of play which may be reduced at will, it is possible not only to fit frames of different sizes but also to vary the amount of slack in the canvas 30 to give greatest comfort in any position to which the frame 20 may be adjusted.

Although my invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment, it is to be understood that the same may be modified in various ways and that, for example, the laces and grommets may be replaced by equivalent connectors and anchor means therefor without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible sheet having fastening means for removably attaching it to an at least approximately U-shaped frame portion, said fastening means comprising three flaps extending from the body of said sheet on three sides thereof, first anchor means extending in three rows on the body of said sheet, said rows defining three sides of a rectangular area in the continuation of said flaps, second anchor means extending in a row at the edge of each of said flaps, and connector means for joining said first and second anchor means together.

2. A sheet according to claim 1, wherein said connector means comprises an elongated, flexible element for each of said flaps, said anchor means comprising grommets traversed by said flexible element.

3. A piece of furniture comprising a frame having an at least approximately U-shaped portion with two side members and an intermediate member, a flexible sheet, and fastening means for removably attaching said sheet to said frame, said fastening means comprising two side flaps extending from said sheet in opposite directions and folded around respective ones ofsaid side members, said sheet having an extremity folded around said intermediate member, the folded-over portions of said flaps and of said extremity converging at one surface of the body of said sheet, first anchor means extending in rows along three sides of a rectangular area in the continuation of said flaps at said one surface of said body, second anchor means extending in rows at the edges of said flaps and of said extremity, and connector means for joining said first and second anchor means together.

4. A piece of furniture according to claim 3, wherein said sheet is elongated and provided with a transverse strip of flexible material secured to it adjacent said extremity, said strip projecting beyond said sheet and forming said two side flaps, said first anchor means being disposed along the perimeter of the area of intersection of said strip and said sheet.

5. A piece of furniture comprising a substantially rectangular frame divided into a seat portion and a back portion pivoted together, a flexible sheet extending the length of said frame, each of said portions having two side members parallel to said sheet and an end member transverse thereto, said sheet having its extremities folded around said end members and being provided with two pairs of side flaps folded around said side members of said seat portion and of said back portion near each extremity of said sheet, respectively, first anchor means on the body of said sheet extending in six rows along three sides of two rectangular areas in the continuation of said two pairs of side flaps, respectively, second anchor means extending in rows at the edges of said flaps and of said extremities, and connector means for joining said first and second anchor means together, said connector means being adjustable to vary the slack in said sheet. 6. In a piece of furniture, in combination, a frame having two substantially parallel members and a transverse member extending between said parallel members, a flexible sheet between said parallel members having an extremity bent around said transverse member, fastening means for securing said sheet to said frame, said fastening means comprising a flexible strip of sheet material attached to said sheet and having its ends bent around said parallel members, first anchor means disposed in rows on said strip, second anchor means disposed in rows at the edges of said bent-over ends, first connector means for joining said first and second anchor means together, third anchor means disposed in a row on said extremity, and second connector means for joining said third anchor means to part of said first anchor means on said strip.

' 7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said first anchor means comprises two rows of grommets respectively facing said bent-over ends and a third row of grommets facing said extremity, said second anchor means comprising two rows of grommets extending along the respective edges of said bent-over ends, said first connector means comprising lacing traversing said two rows of grommets of said first and second anchor means, said third anchor means comprising a row of grommets extending along an edge of said extremity facing said third row, said second connector means comprising lac- 'ing traversing the grommets of said third row and of said third anchor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Thirlwall June 19, 1917 1,412,064 Sanford Apr. 11, 1922 2,659,416 Heyman Nov. 17, 1953 2,665,745 Lo Vico Ian. 12, 1954 

